‘PA for, JVP against devolution’ - Chandrika

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 02 September 2003, 16:27 GMT]Addressing the 52nd annual convention of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party Tuesday, Sri Lanka’s President, Ms. Chandrika Kumaratunge, said that the People’s Alliance was prepared for devolution of power but the Marxist Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) was opposed to it, and therefore they could not come to a consensus on an alliance and talks were still continuing, sources said.

The convention was held at Maligapitiya in Kurunagala in the northwestern province. The SLFP is the main constituent of the People’s Alliance.

Ms. Kumaratunge said at the convention that there was nothing wrong in an alliance between the PA and the JVP on the basis of removing the present United National Front government from power.

All political parties, except the ruling United National Party, were invited for the convention, the theme of which was “we must prepare ourselves for change,” political sources said.

Ms. Kumaratunge further said her main aim was not to form a new government but to "safeguard the country" and to ensure security, which “has deteriorated due to the activities of the LTTE.”

“I am keeping silent in spite of several ministers leveling accusations against me in the cabinet meetings. I will use my executive powers at the appropriate time,” said Ms. Kumaratunge. “It is the duty of the UNF government to safeguard the common people and the country and not the LTTE.”

Meanwhile, political sources said both parties hoped to complete the talks on forming a political alliance before September 30.

The general Secretary of the SLFP, Mr.Maithiripala Sirisena, has said there would be no structural or electoral alliance and thus there would be no need for positions or party symbols. Instead, the main aim of the new alliance would be to oust the UNF government, political sources said.

The sources said that both parties are likely to settle for a loose political alliance minus any electoral alliance.